Switzerland, France To Implement Airport Tax Deal

by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels

20 December 2017

Switzerland and France have announced that their agreement on the tax system applicable to EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg (EAP) will enter into force from January 2018.

The agreement was signed in March 2017, and aims to establish a long-term legal regime that ensures that the airport and its businesses remain attractive and continue to develop.

At a meeting on December 19, Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis and French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian agreed that the new regime will enter into force at the start of next year.

Cassis said: "The agreement is a success for both our countries and for the economic development of the entire tri-national Upper Rhine region. It creates legal certainty for the companies based at EuroAirport, i.e. on French soil, makes it possible to continue with the important infrastructure development supported by both states, and has the potential to create new jobs."

Under the deal, Swiss VAT will be levied in the Swiss area of EAP. France and Switzerland will split the receipts from corporation tax paid by EAP, with all stakeholders taking a share.

Companies in the Swiss area will pay French income tax and Swiss company tax. However, they will not be liable to the main local ancillary taxes levied in France, to which the Swiss tax is considered equivalent.

The agreement was approved by the French National Assembly on December 18, and Switzerland is now awaiting official notification from France that it has ratified the agreement.

TAGS: compliance | tax | business | value added tax (VAT) | VAT legislation | VAT cross-border transactions | corporation tax | agreements | legislation | France | Switzerland | VAT compliance matters